California firefighting agencies receive FIREHAWK helicopters

The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), and the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department recently received new S-70i FIREHAWK helicopters built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and United Rotorcraft, a division of Air Methods Corporation.

“We thank CAL FIRE, the County of Los Angeles and the City of San Diego for their trust in the combined efforts of Sikorsky and United Rotorcraft to bring a life-saving aerial firefighting helicopter to the urban centers and forests of California,” Jason Lambert, vice president of Sikorsky Global Military & Mission Systems, said. “Their firefighters now have a powerful and proven helicopter that can attack fires at night, in strong Santa Ana winds, maneuver with agility and safety in canyons and terrain from sea level up to 10,000 ft. altitude while dropping water with tremendous precision and force.”

The FIREHAWK helicopters, which were configured by United Rotorcraft with a newly designed 1,000-gallon water tank attached to the belly of the aircraft; an extended landing gear to accommodate the tank; a retractable snorkel that can refill the tank in less than one minute; and a rescue hoist, enable fire crews to attack wildfires, transport up to 12 ground firefighters to the fire line and rescue firefighters and civilians when in need.

“With the increase in wildfire danger, the FIREHAWK has never been more relevant to the State of California,” Mike Slattery, president of United Rotorcraft, said. “This capability brings unmatched multi-mission capability to these firefighting agencies to protect lives and property.”